Beer Dinners at Lyon Hall - http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/04/beer-dinners-at-lyon-hall/ - welovedc.comBeer dinners have been growing in prevalence and popularity in the area as the number of beer-inspired restaurants and bars continue to build. Pizzeria Paradiso, Birch and Barley, and Meridian Pint have all played host to beer-pairing dinners, and you may now add Lyon Hall of Clarendon to the mix. Tuesday saw their first beer dinner since opening just under a year ago, and I was lucky to attend as a guest of the restaurant's beer director, David McGregor. He's long planned to do the pairings, which will occur on the first Tuesday of every month, and finally had the opportunity to start this week.

Events>>The Akron Art Museum presents Art and Ale - http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainment/ticket/x256214656/The-Akron-Art-Museum-presents-Art-and-Ale - cantonrep.comArt and Ale will return to the Akron Art Museum's Beatrice Knapp McDowell Grand Lobby on Friday, March 11, from 6-9 pm. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy handcrafted beers from Ohio brew-makers and tasty treats from regional food purveyors. In addition to the beer and food tastings, experts will be available to discuss visitors' own brewing successes and troubles at the home beer making demonstrations.

Bread and Brew: humble ingredients yield long-loved staples - http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110304/LIVING06/110303028/Bread-and-Brew-humble-ingredients-yield-long-loved-staples - burlingtonfreepress.comBakers learn the art of bread making at King Arthur Flour in Norwich. The similarities between bread and beer are the subject of a weekend of classes at King Arthur and the brewhouse at the Norwich Inn March 4-6, 2011. A bit of coarsely ground grain and water. Some yeast, maybe what wafted in naturally from the air. Some water. And a bit of time. From these humble beginnings grow two ancient staples: bread and beer. But what's old is new for participants at this weekend's Bread and Brew weekend in Norwich. Archaeologists have found that cooks in ancient Egypt were using yeast as early as 4000 B.C., probably in bread and in beer. ... Attendees of this near sell-out event can choose among a beer and cheese tasting today; visits to the inn's brewhouse where Brew Master Jeremy Hebert will be working up a special spring batch; bread-baking classes at King Arthur Flour; and a Brewer's Banquet that will feature the breads made in those classes Saturday. Hebert says the food and drink are close relatives.

Lifestyle>>Beer Birthday: Jay Brooks - http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-jay-brooks/ - brookstonbeerbulletin.comToday (March 3) is my 52nd birthday, and I've again been overwhelmed by an embarrassment of riches from well-wishers sending me notes via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook. My sincere thanks to one and all. As it's usually me posting embarrassing photos of my friends and colleagues, for the third year in a row, here's some howlers of me from over the years.

Obamas Hop Into Beer Brewing - http://www.newser.com/story/113314/obamas-hop-into-beer-brewing.html - newser.comThe Obamas turned heads in the beer world when word broke that they'd served something called White House Honey Ale at their White House Super Bowl party. It turns out that ale was indeed brewed by White House chefs, using homebrewing equipment the Obamas bought out of their own pockets and honey from the White House beehive, the Obama Foodorama blog reports. And there's more to come. "It is very safe to assume that there will be more White House beer in the future," said a spokesman for the East Wing. The chefs have even considered planting hops in the White House vegetable garden. "Believe me, I've thought about it," says one assistant chef. As far as historians can tell, this represents the first time beer has ever been brewed at the White House.

Beer Birthday: Tonya Cornett - http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-tonya-cornett/ - brookstonbeerbulletin.comToday is Tonya Cornett's 42nd birthday. Tonya is the brewmaster of Bend Brewing in Oregon, Bend's 2nd largest brewery. I've only met Tonya a couple of times, but she's a great brewer and, of course, being born 1 day and ten years after me makes her a terrific human being, too. Join me in wishing Tonya a very happy birthday.

Pairings Makes Wine and Beer Choices Easy - http://goldenvalley.patch.com/articles/bites-nearby-pairings-makes-wine-and-beer-choices-easy-2Many restaurants offer wine and beer selections. A few recommend certain drinks to complement selections on the menu. But the staff at Pairings take the service a step further by offering diners a wine and beer market attached to the restaurant. The restaurant also has sommeliers on staff to recommend several wines or beers to complement a diner's meal and enhance the taste of the beverage, and patrons may continue their dining experience in the wine and beer market next door.